Archive for December 2009
Latvian
Also Known As: Latviiskaya (Russian), Latviiskii upryazhnyi (Russian), Latvian Carrige, Latvian coach, Latvian Draft
The Latvian breed was developed in Latvia from the beginning of the 20th century up to 1952 by crossing the native horses with west European harness and harness-saddle breeds. Oldenburg, Hanoverian and to a less extent Holstein stallions had most influence. Between 1921 and 1940, 65 Oldenburg stallions and 42 Oldenburg mares were imported from the Netherlands and Germany; they became the core of the breed. Besides the purebred Oldenburgs, Oldenburg crosses and Hanoverian, Norfolk Roadster, Ardennes and East Friesians were widely used. A special role in breed formation was played by the Okte stud in the Talsa region. Read the rest of this entry »
Kustanai
Also Known As: Kustanaiskaya (Russian)
The Kustanai was developed in the steppes of western Kazakhstan at the collective-farm and state-farm studs. The breeding nucleus is concentrated at Kustanai and Maikulski studs. Its development dates from 1887 to 1951. The first date is the year of establishment of the state-owned stud, the Turgai; it was followed by the Kustanai in 1888 and the Orenburg in 1890. The last is the date of official recognition of the Kustanai breed. The new breed was developed by crossing native Kazakh steppe horses with Don, Stralets, Astrakhan (improved Kalmyk) and halfbred Thoroughbred stallions. Nevertheless, at the onset the crossbreeding was unsuccessful. Only after the nucleus of local brood mares, improved by pure breeding and regular creep-feeding, was formed at Kustanai stud did crossbreeding with Thoroughbreds yield a positive result. Read the rest of this entry »
Kushum
Also Known By: Kushumskaya (Russian), West Kazakh Saddle-Draft
The Kushum breed was developed at Pytimarsk and Furman studs in Urals region of Kazakhstan from 1931 to 1976. The breed was developed largely from trotter, Thoroughbred, Don, Budyonny and Kazakh breeding.
Originally, the goal was to develop, on the basis of the native Kazakh horses, a good army mount suitable for keeping in taboons all the year round. Kazakh mares were crossed with Thoroughbreds and half breeds, as well as the trotters, to obtain larger size and to improve gaits. Read the rest of this entry »
Knabstrup
Description: The Knabstrup originated in Denmark. It traces back to the age of the Vikings.
The original size of the Knabstrup horse was about 14.3 hands. It had clean, dry limbs; large, strong hind quarters; and a small, refined head. Basic qualities included an easy and tractable temperament, and these horses were know for their speed and endurance. Since 1100 A.D. the principal lines of distribution extended rapidly when China opened its borders for trade. The Chinese used spotted horses to transport silk and other articles. Part of their main route crossed through France and Spain, which is interesting as the spotted horses were among the earliest to be taken to the Americas. Read the rest of this entry »
Kladruby
Also Known By: Kladrubsky (Czech), Kladruber (German)
Kladruby stud was found in 1579 by the Emperor of Rome and the Czech King Rudolf II. The foundation charter is on display at the Slatinany Hippologic Museum.
The stud was based mainly on imported Spanish and Italian horses, crossed with Neapolitane, Danish, Holstein, Irish, heavier Czech and Oldenburg horses. All of breeds used had some Andalusian breeding in their pedigree.
The Kladruby stud was located at the Perlstein stables where horses had been bred by Maxmilian II for the previous 20 years. Read the rest of this entry »
Kiso
Description: The Kiso horse has inhabited Japan for about one thousand years and has in the past been an indispensable aid for farm use, transportation, and power. Exact origin of the Kiso and other ancient horse breeds of Japan is uncertain. They are believed to be descended from either the plateau horses of Central Asia or the Mongolian horses of the grasslands.
Japan uses horses for military purposes as well as in agriculture and transportation. In the twelfth century, the warrior Yashinaka Kiso reportedly had 10,000 horse soldiers. In the Edo era (1600-1867) there was again emphasis on military use. Kiso canyon belonged to the Owari feudal clan. Records from this time regarding the ancient types have been a valuable aid to modern horse breeders. The government of the Kiso area considered the Kiso horse a strategic material, and produced many; numbers again reaching more than 10,000. Read the rest of this entry »
Kisber Felver
Description: The Kisber Felver breed was developed at the former Kisber Stud in Hungary. The stud farm was founded in 1853 on 15,000 acres. It was developed primarily for the breeding of Thoroughbred horses. The stud produced such racing talents as Kisber, winner of the Epsom Derby; and Kincsem, the unbeatable mare who made her way into the Guinness Book of World Records for an unbeaten 54 races. The Kisber Stud not only left permanent marks on Thoroughbred racing history, but also developed a half-bred horse that was regarded as the world’s most beautiful sport horse. Through a carefully planned and controlled breeding program, rigorous in its selection process, a distinct type evolved. Created over a hundred years ago, the Kisber Felver clearly displays the traits that we desire in the modern sport horse: conformation, athletic ability, movement, and temperament. Read the rest of this entry »
Kirdi Pony
Also Known By: Cameroon Pony, Lakka, Logone, Mbai, M’baye, Moussey, Mussey, Pagan, Sara
The Kirdi Pony is found in the Logone river basin in southwest Chad and northern Cameroon. It is used primarily as a riding animal.
Reference:
Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.
Photographs:
We are currently searching for photographs or slides of this breed.
Kiger Mustang
Also Known By: Kiger Mesteno
For decades it was largely accepted that the Spanish bloodlines from which the Mustangs of the American west had descended were either lost or very diluted in the current day Mustangs. However, some people speculated that there might be isolated herds of horses which would still have a strong Spanish influence. In 1977, a herd of mustangs which appeared to be largely of Spanish descent were brought in from the remote and rugged Beaty Butte region in Lake County, Oregon. The animals were uniformly of a dun coloration, ranging from brown-dun to nearly white. All had dorsal stripes and zebra striped legs. Two subsequent groups were gathered from the same area and were equally uniform in size and color. The Kiger Mustang shows the classic Barb head and the right size with an average weight of between 700 and 800 pounds. Read the rest of this entry »
Kerry Bog Pony
Description: The Kerry bog Pony almost became extinct. By 1994 there were only 20 ponies left in the whole of Ireland.
The Kerry Bog Pony is quite small – almost like a Shetland Pony – about 10 or 11 hands high, with a distinctive dish or curved face. rather like an Arab. Breed colours are chestnut with black mane and tail or grey and also bay.
To establish whether or not these ponies are truly survivors of a rare breed, the stallion Flashy Fox was tester for genetic markers by Wetherbys Ireland, and was satisfactorily blood-typed in 1994. Now the Kerry Bog Pony Society has been formed. Read the rest of this entry »